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Chibi Maruko-chan Gets 1st New Anime Film in 23 Years
posted on by Crystalyn Hodgkins
Momoko Sakura's Chibi Maruko-chan manga and anime franchise is getting its first new anime film in 23 years. The Eiga Chibi Maruko-chan film will open on December 23. The film will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the television anime's broadcast.
Sakura herself is in charge of the film's script. In the story, Maruko is courted by Italian man, and she also travels to Tokyo and Osaka. Jun Takagi (Chibi Maruko-chan television anime, Legend of the Condor Hero), will direct the film at Nippon Animation, and Fuji Television is producing the film. TOHO will distribute the film.
The previous film in the franchise, Chibi Maruko-chan: Watashi no Suki na Uta (Chibi Maruko-chan: My Favorite Song) opened in Japan in December 1992.
Sakura serialized the original manga in Ribon from 1986 to 1996. She launched a four-panel version in a Japanese newspaper in 2007, and she ended that version in 2011.
The original manga inspired the Chibi Maruko-chan television anime that is consistently the #2 rated anime series after Sazae-san. The first anime series ran from 1990 to 1992, and the ongoing second series premiered in 1995. The 1,000th television anime episode aired in 2012.
The manga has also inspired several live-action specials and television series.
Source: Comic Natalie via 0takomu
